"The Quiet Place" by Emily Laney

Photo by Creative Commons

We are entering a very exciting and very busy season in our society - the “Holiday Season”.  Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years, etc. are many occasions to celebrate, eat, and go, go, go, but for many of us, this time of year, while joyous and fun, also brings a whole lot of this little, but yet big, word:  Stress.

Sometimes I feel that I attract stress like a magnet. Today was just crazy, and now it’s just before midnight while I write this post.  I’m headed out of town tomorrow for work but haven’t packed yet.  I feel so thankful in where God has me right now, but while my cup runs over with blessings, my plate is also completely full.  With the holidays coming up, all I can think about are the deadlines looming and how my husband and I will juggle the social gatherings we have to attend.

There are many things in play here that result in stress, but I don’t want to get into a lengthy discussion about boundaries, saying no, and over commitment. Those are certainly aspects of my life that I need to work on.  I imagine I’m not the only one.  I could also talk about society, how we’ve created a culture that is completely nonstop.  It’s a culture that applauds the woman who can ‘do it all’ while still looking perfect 24/7.  I feel like we have conversations about society and boundaries a good bit.  We know the deep cultural ideals that lead to stress being our norm, and we know that healthy boundaries can decrease our stress.

What we don’t talk about very often is this term in my profession (social work) that we call “self care”.  Self care is essentially what it sounds like, taking care of yourself.  It’s taking time to relax, unwind, and refuel.  It’s something that we all should do, but very few of us consciously take the time to practice.  It’s practical, simple, and even Biblical.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. – Mark 1:35

He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. – Psalm 91:1

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing, so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. – Gen 2:2

God rested, Jesus went away to a quiet place, and if we dwell in the secret place, we will be under the shadow of God.  These are just a few verses that come to mind when I think about “self care”.  Many of us bustle around like Martha when we should be resting at the feet of Jesus like Mary (see Luke 10:38-42).  We think that we are supposed to be busy, busy, busy, which usually means we are also stressed, stressed, stressed. When I am constantly on the go, I can miss out on ministry opportunities and just miss out on the simple beauties of our world.  I know God didn’t intend for us to live in that way.

My sweet sisters, take some time each day to go to your "quiet place".  Even if it’s only for 15 minutes and you have to sneak away, find things that help you relax and do them.  Take time to read your Bible and pray, but don’t put pressure on yourself to do your devotional a certain way.  Just sit in the presence of God.  Take deep breaths and visualize your stress going away. Go on a walk outside and breathe fresh air.  Do a favorite hobby just for the fun of it.  For a few minutes each day, take care of you.  God cherishes you greatly and loves you so much.  He doesn’t want you to stress yourself out to burnout.  You were worth Him sending His son, and He wants you to be healthy and resting in his presence.

Photo caption:  Stress balls may work for a short period of time, but self care and resting in God’s presence are better bets. 

 

Emily Laney is a social worker, educator and justice seeker.  She has worked with vulnerable populations in the United States and abroad and loves to help startup nonprofits reach their goals.  She is a Passion City Church door holder and leads a team of abolitionists at Not for Sale Georgia.  She loves her husband Brent and their rescue pup Biscuit.  Sunsets and Sushi make her happy. 

You can connect with Emily on twitter @emilylaney or on her blog www.emilylaney.com

Enjoy this video of "Rest" by Kari Jobe

Kari Jobe - Here (Official Acoustic Video) from kari-jobe on GodTube.

"Resting & Healing in His Shelter" - by Jennifer O. White

Your call to fearlessness is sustaining me.  Thank You, Mighty God, for being my wise counselor, my refuge, and my strength.  

I am covered by Your sheltering wing.  While you shelter me, You are fighting for me.  Time, space, my emotions, resources, and the cares of millions of other souls do not limit You.  

This present darkness does not diminish Your light.  While evil tip toes nearby, I know that You have erected a hedge of protection.  You defend the boundaries of my dearest relationships.  You have given me solace in green pastures and set a beautiful table for me in walking distance of my enemy.  

I sit quietly, releasing the breath that I have held captive in anxiousness.  My teeth are unclenched and my jaw relaxed.  The threat of confrontation thunders, but I am safe with You.  

For a few moments, I rest my head in the bed of Your heavenly ICU, every answer, every kindness, every life-saving precaution offered by You and Your ministering saints and angels. I cry out to you “Help Me”, and I wait, knowing You hear the cry of the broken.  Safety is mine, because You are the administrator of every good thing.

Photo by Jennifer O. White

Your Word is my medicine.  When my energy to speak or read fails, You deliver it to me.  Your song to me is my greatest comfort.  

My strength improves, and I walk to the window.  Your light is warm and invites me to see You at work beyond the walls of my current reality.  Nature reminds me of Your creative power; I see what You have done and smile.  My heart settles to an easy rhythm, and I breathe in a sureness of You.  What I see is much more grand than an army could provide.  

I will rest while You work.  

The removal of my self-protective tissue will heal.  The new implants of surrender and dependence will thrive under Your care.  This place of rest and rehabilitation has five-star accommodations.  

My heart longs to remain here, never again to pay rent to the slumlord of fear.

Jennifer White
Author, Speaker & Encourager
Prayerfully Speaking
@jenniferowhite

Jennifer White pursues God in prayer with the Bible as her guide. She leads others to do the same at Prayerfully Speaking. Wife to David is her highest calling. She recently completed her first book; Prayers for new Brides: Putting on the Armor After the Wedding Dress.  #LIVEWONDERSTRUCK with her that God is and does "more than we can ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20). #GodAnswers 

Battling it Out - by @emilylaney

Photo credit: snow0810 (creative commons)

Battling It Out

By

Emily Walters Laney

Have you ever gotten in a fight? Fist fight, fight with words, cold war with the silent treatment? I think you would have to be living under a rock if you could honestly tell me you’ve never experienced any sort of conflict. It’s part of the human condition. We don’t always get along. We are people- conflict is just part of the story. And sometimes conflict results in growth and positive changes. Sometimes you have to be refined in the fire in order to really be transformed.

Sometimes our conflicts are with people, and sometimes our conflicts are with life itself. Maybe the struggle came from an interpersonal issue, or maybe it’s just from life circumstances that have resulted in a situation that is less than ideal. Maybe I’m not making sense, but essentially the question is this: have you ever felt like you were battling life? No matter what you do, the overall circumstances just feel like a fight? You’re in the ring, you have the boxing gloves on, and you are trying to ward off the circumstances, doubt, and struggles that seem to be attacking you from all sides.

I’ll be the first to say that I’ve led a very blessed life, and my periods of trial have been minimal compared to other people. I’ve always had food to eat, a place to sleep, and clothes to wear. My problems have always been ‘first world problems’. But there have still been periods of trial, periods of a battle, where I felt weary and tired from the struggles around me. Right now things are calm, but I usually find myself staring at my boxing gloves, wondering if I’ll need to put them on soon. The lessons that God has taught me over the years are fresh in my mind, but the enemy is trying to make me forget God’s faithfulness. In my mind I’m touching the gloves that symbolize that battle, wondering what is going to happen in three weeks, six weeks, three months, six months. Will I have to put the gloves on and enter the ring once again?

But as I touch the gloves, wondering if they still fit and what’s going to happen in the future, a verse comes to mind.

The Lord will fight for you, you only need to be still. – Exodus 14:14.

Wait what? God will fight for me? Seems too good to be true. Isn’t there a verse that says “God helps those who help themselves?” I need to fight for myself! (actually, there isn’t a verse that says that, just wanted to throw that in there because I know we’ve all thought that before or had a well intentioned friend/relative/boss/acquaintance tell us that)

The Lord will fight for me. I know that. He’s done it before. He’s won many huge battles for me and my family over the years. Things have happened that I can only attribute to God’s incredible ability to fight for me. He loves us, and he’s there.

So, if you’re like me, always staring at those boxing gloves, walk away. Or better yet, hand them to God. If you’re in the ring, struggling to make it through the fight, step out of the ring and let God take your place. He wants to fight for us, we only need to be still. Rest in that today. I know I’m trying to.

 
Emily Laney is a social worker, educator and justice seeker. She has worked with vulnerable populations in the United States and abroad and loves to help startup nonprofits reach their goals. She is a Passion City Church door holder and leads a team of abolitionists at Not for Sale Georgia.  She loves her husband Brent and their rescue pup Biscuit. Sunsets and Sushi make her happy. 

You can connect with Emily on twitter @emilylaney or on her blog www.emilylaney.com

The Hyenas of Busyness - A Guest Post by @ Tal Prince

The Hyenas of Busyness 

ByTal Prince  

So - how’s your schedule these days? If you’re like most people, the answer ranges

somewhere between busy and insane. With the Holidays coming up, there’s no sign of

relief anywhere on the horizon. So what can we do but keep running? In today’s world everything shouts “RUN!” Our inbox alerts us to run. Our calendar alarms us to runs. Our cell phones ring out the call to run. Our jobs demand that we run. Our families cry for us to run. So we run.

And we run...

and run... 

and we run. 

Many times, not even knowing where we are going. In my experience speed and

uncertainty of direction are not good friends; when they get together, things rarely end

well. Yet, still we run. We are panicked, but running with our electronic leashes and

monitoring devices dangling around our feet ringing, alerting, and alarming us in the

event that we slow down. 

Have you ever watched hyenas hunt? They are among the cruelest of all predators. What makes them cruel? Pound for pound, they have the most powerful jaws in the animal kingdom, but that’s not it. It’s not their size - they are the size of a German Shepherd.

However, their hearts are twice the size as that of a lion. This gives them the capability of running for long distances. If cheetahs are sprinters, the hyenas are the marathon runners of jungle predators. 

Combine their hearts and jaws and they are capable killing machines, but what makes them cruel is their ability to hunt in packs. Hyenas travel in clans, and when they spot a herd of animals, they select their target. They then move in and systematically separate their target from the herd. They dart in and out causing their target to spin and turn in an effort to stay with the herd. The target starts to run and then get disoriented as uncertainty of direction and speed separates them from the protection of the herd. Then the hyenas begin to laugh. 

It. 

Is. 

Cruel. 

The hyenas circle and chase their prey while they laugh. They are capable of running great distances at 6 miles per hour, and they never let their prey rest. They bite at its heels if it slows down. They continue to force their hapless target to switch directions - adding to the desperate confusion and disorientation. They are cut off. Alone. And running. If they slow down, the hyenas move in at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour and nip at their heels.

The hyenas relentlessly pursue their hapless  prey until exhaustion takes over. Their

target: separated, exhausted and alone, loses hope and gives up. The hyenas then

move in and literally eat their prey alive. 

I have hyenas chasing me - do you? 

They keep me busy. 

They keep me running. 

They keep me disoriented.

When I slow down, they laugh - their laughter sounds like my iPhone, email, calendar

and task list. Their laughter reminds me that my perfectionism is at stake. “Look out, Tal

- you’re going to blow it! Something is going to slip through the cracks and it will be all

your fault! What are you going to do? RUN, Tal, RUN! 

Tal, you’re late for a call. 
Tal, you’re late for a meeting. 
Tal, you’re late on a deadline. 
Tal, your emails are backed up! 
Tal, you’re late picking up your kids from practice! 
Tal, what are you thinking? RUN!”

 Can you identify with that? Are the hyenas of busyness on your trail? Have you been cut

off from the herd? 

For me, it’s times like these when God’s Word makes the least sense. Look at how Eugene Peterson translates Psalm 46:10, “Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at

me, your High God, above politics, above everything.”1 How do we take a verse like that when the hyenas of busyness continues to harass us? Is it as tough for you as it is for me at times?

I think, though, this is why the late Dallas Willard said, “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life, for worry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our world today.” 

My personal struggle with perfectionism makes it hard for me to choose to step out of the traffic. It seems so much easier to pursue your opinion of me. Though it never really works, I continue to run, instead of rest.  Then I am too busy to pray and become separated from community and God, I become prey.  

What about you? How will you handle the hyenas of busyness today? We all know they are coming - can you ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life? Can you take the time to step out of the traffic to take a long and loving look at the most high God?  

1 Peterson, E. H. (2002). The Message : The Bible in contemporary language (Ps 46:9–

10). Colorado Springs, Colo.: NavPress.